Chapter 34 A Promise from Ten Years Ago

Chapter 34: A Ten-Year-Old Promise

Lin Wei hadn’t come to the company for two days straight.

No call, no note—it was as if she had vanished from the face of the earth.

Shen Qingci didn’t think much of it the first day, figuring she must have had an emergency.

On the second day, he had his assistant call to check on her. She picked up, but Lin Wei only said, “I have family matters, I’ll be back soon,” her voice hoarse, as if she had been crying.

On the morning of the third day, Lin Wei finally showed up.

She walked into the office while Shen Qingci was going over some files.

Hearing the knock, he looked up and saw Lin Wei, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Lin Wei looked even worse than before.

Her eyes were swollen like walnuts, with deep shadows under them, and her face was deathly pale.

She wore makeup, but the foundation couldn’t hide her weariness, and the lipstick couldn’t hide her chapped lips.

What concerned Shen Qingci the most was the absence of light in her eyes.

The usual focus and drive she had at work, the occasional flicker of cunning and laughter—all of it was gone.

It was as if she seemed completely hollowed out, leaving only a deep, unfathomable stillness.

“Mr. Shen,” Lin Wei walked to the desk and handed over a document, “this is the list of partners for next week. It needs your review.”

Her voice was soft, completely flat.

Shen Qingci took the document, looking down at it, but his peripheral vision lingered on Lin Wei’s wrist.

He noticed several distinct red marks revealed when she lifted her arm.

They looked like someone had grabbed her wrist hard.

Shen Qingci’s gaze lingered on the marks for a second before he pretended not to notice and looked away, continuing to read the document.

Lin Wei stood there, waiting quietly.

She kept her head down, her hair falling to cover half her face, her shoulders slightly hunched as if trying to hide herself.

Shen Qingci picked up a pen, ready to sign.

Just then, the office door swung open.

Lu Lin walked in, holding a large bouquet of purple irises.

The petals were still beaded with dew, shimmering like silk in the morning light, exceptionally vibrant.

He acted as if Lin Wei wasn’t even there, walking directly to the vase by the window, skillfully replacing yesterday’s old flowers with the new ones.

Then he picked up the vase, walked to Shen Qingci’s desk, and placed it on the corner.

He placed it just so, at a 45-degree angle to Shen Qingci’s right, where it wouldn’t block his view but would be visible with just a glance.

“Brother,” Lu Lin tilted his head, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Shen Qingci, “do you like them?”

Shen Qingci glanced at the bouquet and nodded. “Mm.”

He had grown accustomed to it.

Accustomed to Lu Lin’s daily ritual of bringing flowers, accustomed to the sight of irises blooming in the office, and accustomed to Lu Lin’s dog-like persistence in marking his territory.

Lu Lin, receiving the affirmation, saw his lips curve into a smile.

He carefully adjusted the angle of the flower stems, ensuring each bloom was flawless, then took a step back, admiring his work with satisfaction.

Lin Wei remained standing in place, head bowed, as if she hadn’t seen or heard anything.

Shen Qingci finished signing and handed the document back to her. “All set.”

Lin Wei took the document, murmured, “Thank you, Mr. Shen,” before turning to leave.

“Lin Wei,” Shen Qingci called out to her.

Lin Wei stopped but didn’t turn around.

“If…” Shen Qingci paused, “if you need anything, let me know.”

Lin Wei’s shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly.

Then she managed a whispered “Thank you,” and quickly left the office.

The door closed.

Only Shen Qingci and Lu Lin remained in the office.

Shen Qingci looked at the closed door, his brow furrowing again.

Lu Lin walked over to him, crouched down, and naturally took his hand. “Brother, what’s wrong?”

Shen Qingci didn’t pull his hand back, only turned his head to look at him.

“What kind of person is Lin Wei’s husband?”

Lu Lin blinked, looking utterly clueless. “I’m not sure… I only know he seems rather unaccomplished, and the whole family relies on Lin Wei to get by.”

Shen Qingci fell silent for a moment before asking again,

“Do you know about her family situation?”

Lu Lin shook his head. “No, brother. Why are you asking about this?”

Shen Qingci didn’t answer.

He just looked at Lu Lin, at the undisguised dependence and focus in those eyes, and suddenly felt that asking Lu Lin was a complete waste of breath.

After all, Lu Lin’s world was too small.

So small it could only hold one person.

The joys and sorrows, the ups and downs of others—to Lu Lin, they seemed like irrelevant background noise.

Seeing Shen Qingci remain silent, Lu Lin leaned closer, his eyes filled with anticipation. “Brother, can you take me to the amusement park?”

The topic shifted too abruptly, leaving Shen Qingci momentarily stunned.

He pulled his hand back, picked up the folder on the desk, and gave Lu Lin a light tap on the head: "Aren't you a little old for the amusement park?"

The light went out of Lu Lin's eyes.

He lowered his head, his voice thick: "But you... you promised me."

Shen Qingci's hand stilled.

He remembered.

Ten years ago, on the morning of his twenty-seventh birthday, Lu Lin pestered him, "Brother, what do you want for your birthday?"

He was rushing out to a meeting at the time and casually said, "Once things calm down at work, I'll take you to the amusement park."

That was the first, and only, time he promised to take Lu Lin to an amusement park.

Then that night, he got into a car accident.

That promise turned into a lie he could never make good on.

Shen Qingci looked at the top of Lu Lin's bowed head and was quiet for a moment.

Then he said:

"Maybe when I have time."

His voice was very soft, but Lu Lin heard it.

His head snapped up, his eyes lighting up again.

"Okay!"

He smiled a smile so bright it was like he'd been given the world.